Will of Anthonie or Antony, Mariner of Bideford

Proved 17th March 1659/60

© Crown Copyright

National Archives PCC will ref:PROB 11/297/92,
Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Nabbs Quire Numbers: 1 - 51

Transcribed by Peter J. Harris 

Written: 1^stFebruary 1658/9
Proved: 17th March 1659/60
Beneficiaries: Phillip ROWE (Cousin, son of John ROWE); Martha WILLS (Daughter)

Will (page 1):

In the name of God Amen This first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty eight I Anthonie Wills of Bitheford in the County of Devon Mariner being in my right mynde and perfect memorie praised be Almighty god for the same Yet calling to minde the [..] of death and departure out of this life doe for the better ordering and disposing of the estate [...] god hath lent may make and ordain this my testament declaring therein my last will in manner and forme following First I commend my soule into the hands of Almighty god my maker and redeemer hopeing assuredly to be saved by the marvells of Jesus Christ my only Saviour , and my body to the earth from whence it came to bee untowards at the disposing of mynd [....] [....] after named or those that shall have to doe concerning the same Item I give and bequeath unto my cousin Phillip Rowe the sonne of John Rowe of the parish Abottsham in the County of Devon Saylor tenne pounds of lawfull money of England and after our [....] [....] Chests to be paid and delivered unto the said Phillipp Rowe when hee shall accomplish the age of Twenty five years Provided that the said Phillip Rowe when hee shall accomplish the age of one and Twenty years shall account with my executrix for and  nonrecurring a [...] Legacies given to him the said Phillip by John Wills the brother of me the said Anthonie late of Abottisham Derrafed in the County of Devon Saylor, And shall then release acquit and discharge my said executrix for and concerning the same or else my said executrix shall have full power to release and keepe back the said legacies soe given by mee. And it shall remayne and .. as not give by me the said Anthonie, Alsoe I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Martha Wills all my lands Messuages Tenements rents reversions serving Hereditaments with their apportionments situate lying and being in Bitheford or elsewhere To have and to hold all &

(page 2)

Hold all and singular the said lands Messuages Tenements rents reversions serving Hereditaments with their apportionments unto her the said Martha Wills and to her heirs for ever Neverthelesse if my said daughter shall happen to dye before her bee married or if she shall happen to marry and shall leave no seed lawfully begotten then in such case my will and meaning is, that the said Martha shall have the said lands but during her natural life and the life of her husband and immediately, after the death or decease of the said Martha & her husband my will and meaning is, and I will give & bequeath all and singular my said lands Messuages Tenements rentsreversions serving Hereditaments with their apportionments unto the said named Phillip Rowe and to his heirs for ever: And if the said Phillip Rowe shall happen to dye and leave noe seed lawfully begotten Then in such case my will and meaning is and I will give and bequeath all and singular my lands Messuages Tenements rents reversions serving Hereditaments with their apportionments unto John Clarke of the parish of Northam in the County of Devon yeoman and to his heirs for ever, all the rest of my goods and Chattells whatsoever, not before given nor bequeathed my debts and funerall expenses discharged I give and bequeath unto the said Martha my daughter and her I make ordaine & appoint to be full and sole executrix of this my last will and testament Nevertheless if my said daughter shall happen to dye before she married or attayne to the age of twenty years. Then in such case my will and meaning is and I will give and bequeath all and singular my said goods and Chattells whatsoever unto ?.... named Phillip Rowe and him I ordayne and appoint to be full and sole executor of this my last will and testament And I doe earnestly request my very good Servant William Gurrinings senior of Bitheford in the County of Devon Marriner, and the said named John Clarke to my said Executrix and to be overseers of this my last will & Testament And they to mannage my lands and Tenements whatsoever and all other my goods and Chattells and moneys and debts whatsoever and to arrange the rents & profits of the same unto their hands and to imploy the same after the best manner they can or may for the good of my said daughter, and to account with her for the same att her day of Marriage or of her attaining the age of Twenty years which of them shall first happen. And for their paines thereon taken I doe ordaine and appointe unto each of them tenne shillings of lawfull money of England In witness hereof I the said Anthony Wills have hereunto sett my hand and Seale and published the same to bee my last will and testament even the daye and year first above written Anthony Wills Sealed by the said Anthony Published for his last will aand testament in presence of us underwritten William Hooper the signe of Mary Anderson:-

Probate:

This Will was proved att London The Seventeenth day of March in the year of our Lord god one Thousand six Hundred Fiftie Nine English style Before the right [...] Walter Walker and William Turner doctors of Laws and Judges of the Court for Probate of Wills and granting Administrations lawfully authorised By the oath of Martha Wills his daughter & sole executrix in the said will named to whom was committed administration of all and singular the goods Chattells and debts of the said deceased She being first legally sworn by commission well and truly to administer the same